Key Player

Locations
Call Number: Y Fiction / Yang, Kelly, Kids Book / Fiction / General / Yang, Kelly
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	Y Fiction / Yang, Kelly	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Yang, Kelly	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Yang, Kelly	4-week checkout	Due 05-22-2024
Traverwood Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Yang, Kelly	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Yang, Kelly	4-week checkout	Due 05-25-2024

"Mia Tang is going for the goal in the fourth Front Desk novel by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang! The Women's World Cup coming to Southern California, everyone is soccer-crazy -- especially Mia Tang! The U.S. is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. Less exciting, though? The fact that her P.E. teacher wants Mia to get out of the soccer field, too -- or fall short of the grade she needs to earn a spot at journalism camp. But as always, Mia Tang is ready with a plan: she'll track down the two women's teams, interview them, and write an A-grade article for P.E. instead! It's not so easy, though, finding professional athletes in Pasadena -- or bringing two identities together, even during a game. As Mia aims for her goals, she'll have to face prejudice, discrimination, and her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win, it's Mia Tang!"--Provided by publisher

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Summary / Annotation
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Awesome 4th Book in Front Desk Series submitted by ksullivan on August 3, 2023, 11:25am The fourth installment in Kelly Yang's "Front Desk" series is maybe my favorite yet. While Mia shines in journalism, as seen in the other three books, her supposed hidden soccer talents have yet to show themselves. With the Women's World Cup's most significant game approaching, however, and her classmates deciding that, because Mia is Chinese and China is now the enemy team, Mia is the enemy as well, she is pushed by her P.E. teacher to step it up on the soccer pitch--until she suggests getting an A from an interview instead. But not just any interview. Mia has to find either the Chinese or U.S. team and shine a spotlight on either one. It's not going to be easy, and it's not always going to be fun, but in the end Mia will find a way to overcome everything that stands in her way!
I appreciated the fact that Yang doesn't exclusively focus on the main character; she also creates enthralling side stories about Jason Yao and his dad, who are wrapped up in the idea of owning a slice of the Calivista, and her best friend, Lupe, who has been moved up to high school math and is troubled by her mathletes coach, her new and old friends, and maybe someone who is something more.
This book gave me a lot of insight on how the 1999 World Cup was experienced by immigrants and the Chinese team themselves. In the book and author's note, they note that getting to the game has not been an easy journey but that not matter what, they know they always have each other.
Read this book! It was a fun, cozy read that made me feel warm inside. Thank you, Kelly Yang and everyone who has read this far into my review!